Yesterday I got a Facebook letter from Becky, the playwright who wrote our story. She told me that "Nate" *the young man that played the role of Patrick, who was killed along side my daughter was heartbroken because of not being able to find a home for his 4 year old Pibble, named Domino.

I Don't know all the financial issues, but he's not able to take Domino on with him when he and his family get evicted from their home.((Domino has been with Nate since she was 8 weeks old))

Becky asked if perhaps I 'knew someone, somewhere' that might be able to help.Of course I don't. Too many Pibbles.......Too Many Miles Between Rescues who Are Slammed Full of Unwanted Dogs.

But this was Nate.

Nate, among the other young actors in the play, Gave So Very Much of Themselves ----in ways they never expected to give for a ROLE....No Acting Opportunities prepared them for the Play "In My Daughter's Name".

These young people, for 8 performances, Lived and Relived the Life and the Deaths of Two Very young and Remarkable People.

These Young KIDS........I cannot Begin to Tell You.These CHILDREN ...Trembled with Compassion and Reverence, every time they approached Us...the family. They whispered...they cried......they never thought they would become a part of those that Lived and Those that Died.I felt their Foreheads as they rested their burden Against Mine........We Leaned Together.....We Suffered Against the Strain. In No Way Do I have any weird psychological connection because Nate reminded me of Patrick.I never knew Patrick.But Nate Became a Part of the Pieces.

When that young man told me he had no hope for Domino, I believed him. I went to a young theater major's house, expecting something middle class, something ubiquitous, something OKAY.But I had stereotyped him...prejudged a theater student as if only middle class kids pick educations that rely on big dreams and slim chances.Instead, I found an impoverished little family barely scraping by; a little pit bull with horrible skin allergies and weepy eyes. A Desperate young man trying to save whatever he could as eviction and poverty forced him to make choices.

I decided Domino wasn't going to be a causality.

I know THE Following:::No Dog Aggression Even With Being in a Home full of Other Dogs...No Human Aggression, Ever.Likes to Chase Cats but Seems to Only Want to Play With Them.Was Spayed at 5 Months.Has Terrible Allergies and takes Predinsone pills??Is Up to Date on all Shots Takes Frontline for Heartworm/Fleas

Is Happy to Be Playing but Soon Settles and Takes Long Naps....

I Know, I know I know........ I'm mixing a Lot of Personal Stuff in the Life of This Little Dog. I'm taking a risk and Will Experience Profound changes with Dar and Macy.This 'foster' May Last Forever.Please Give Me Some Good Sound ADvice and Insights on Fostering ----

But This is Nate and he became more than a handsome young actor When He Stepped into our lives....

This is Domino and Now She Matters Too....

“Hope has two beautiful daughters: their names are Anger and Courage. Anger that things are the way they are. Courage to make them the way they ought to be.”----Augustine

Her skin looks like Kisses did. I'd try not feeding any beef, buffalo, bison, chicken or turkey. Also no grains and no yogurt and add a good acidophilus supplement. Poor girl. Keeping a t-shirt on Kisses keeps her from chewing/scratching at herself.

I don't suppose you know what's she's allergic to?

~Jeanine

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

BigDogBuford wrote:Her skin looks like Kisses did. I'd try not feeding any beef, buffalo, bison, chicken or turkey. Also no grains and no yogurt and add a good acidophilus supplement. Poor girl. Keeping a t-shirt on Kisses keeps her from chewing/scratching at herself.

I don't suppose you know what's she's allergic to?

NO IDEA.Vet never even mentioned he could have her tested.I have a feeling the vet is a low-rent-no-frills vet providing minimal care.

THANK you for the advice....How about -Fish?? TOTW has a fish one...(Christine mentioned Fausty is eating it)...

“Hope has two beautiful daughters: their names are Anger and Courage. Anger that things are the way they are. Courage to make them the way they ought to be.”----Augustine

Yes, I switched Faust(*y* ) over to that, even though he did very well on NB also... I like the ingredients much better, and he is doing fantastic. He gets about 2 1/2 cups a day, plus supplements, and the bag lasts for quite a while (since costs are always a factor...), not to mention the savings on vet bills for allergy-related visits.Jeanine also sent a "magic potion" to treat his skin with, and he hasn't had any outbreaks in months. I couldn't be happier...

A correct diagnosis is vital to figure out the how to treat her skin condition, so that would be my first step.

Yes... increase the amount of new kibble ((mixed w/her old food) over a week or so, and she should be fine.

But... I would definitely get her properly diagnosed before bringing her home. She could have anything from allergies to other skin conditions, and you don't want to spread some sort of mange-like thing to the rest of your household. It's really hard to tell from the pics what's wrong w'her skin... it *could* be something as simple as an allergy to her flea meds/food/etc., but there is a form of mange that is extremely contagious, though rare.Better safe than sorry.

prednisone will calm the inflammation in the skin, and tell the immune system to settle down and not overreact.

What dose is she taking, and how much does she weigh? Make sure to continue her on it, simply stoping her treatment could cause an Adisonian crisis and major metabolic systems issues (read: could cause pricey vet visit!!)

Switch her to the food slowly, maybe over a week or 2. Right now we're doing that with Oscar - we started with 1/3 new and 2/3 old with every meal and gradually we'll switch to more and less etc, etc.

I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day, tomorrow doesn't look good either.
_______________________________________
"You didn't know of the magical powers of the break stick? It's up there with genies and Harry Potter as far as magic levels go." SisMorphine 01/07/07

Yes... increase the amount of new kibble ((mixed w/her old food) over a week or so, and she should be fine.

No, I meant introduce HER, in increments LOL!!But... I would definitely get her properly diagnosed before bringing her home. She could have anything from allergies to other skin conditions, and you don't want to spread some sort of mange-like thing to the rest of your household. It's really hard to tell from the pics what's wrong w'her skin... it *could* be something as simple as an allergy to her flea meds/food/etc., but there is a form of mange that is extremely contagious, though rare.Better safe than sorry.

I'm thinking about just taking her to our vet and beign done with it. Why would I trust this guy?

“Hope has two beautiful daughters: their names are Anger and Courage. Anger that things are the way they are. Courage to make them the way they ought to be.”----Augustine

mnp13 wrote:I personally like long separations, allowing them to get used to each other's smell and get used to the other dog just "being there." It was weeks before Ruby and Riggs met.

This. So much this. By the time my dogs actually meet a 'new' dog, they are so completely bored and over it. Unless I'm introducing a puppy, then I usually just let the pup meet everyone right away. All of my dogs are really good with puppies except for Buford. Buford can be a little grumpy but he's also really fair about corrections and the puppies always want to emulate and please Buford.

Definitely get her to the vet. She looks like she might have some sort of secondary infection going on. Does she smell funny? It might not be a bad idea to talk about taking her off meds and try a good diet and see how she does. You might be able to manage it that way and you can always add in some meds if needed later.

Last edited by BigDogBuford on December 23rd, 2010, 11:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

~Jeanine

You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.